Dennis G. Erwin studied critical factors influencing individual resistance to organizational change based on the literature review of the previous studies. The main objective of the current study is to give some directions to change agents and management team in the organization in order to effectively manage the resistance to change. The selected studies that the author used as the literature review combined a variety of organizational types in both different regional context and change environment.
According to the previous studies, the author categorized resistance to change into three dimensions which included behavioural, cognitive and affective dimensions. Firstly, the behavioural dimension works with the way each individual reacts against the change implementation. This behavior can be shown in either positive or negative way of resistance when he or she responses to change. In this respect, this might depend on the degree of individuals’ receptivity (‘readiness’), readiness (active or passive), openness (covert or overt) and support (supportive or resistant) to change initiatives.
Secondly, the cognitive dimension involves each individual’s attitude toward the change. According to his study based on those findings, change commitment and evaluations can lead to negative cognitive attitudes toward change. It’s not quite clear whether he mentioned the commitment from management team in the organization or employee commitment, and it’s about the evaluations from previous or current change implementation.
Lastly, an individual might resist change initiatives in the form of their feelings toward the change which was defined as the affective dimension. This kind of emotions can be shown through his or her uncertainty at individual, group and even organizational level both prior change and during change implementation (). Such an uncertainty concerns job